Subject: Cascade Crest Classic long version
From: "Schmidt, Paul"
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 10:41:58 -0700
I have waited for others (Rob Smith, where are you) to give a report on this
race, but I have decided to go forward with my impressions of this race
before I forget all of the details.
Once again, I was joined in this race with my two pals Richard and Monica.
My wife, Kathleen, and I arrived in to Seattle at about 5 pm on Friday. We
waited for Richard, who arrived about an hour later and then headed out to
our hotel near the start in Cle Elum. We arrived at the Stewart Lodge at
about 9 pm only to find Monica fast a sleep. This race begins at 10 am on
Saturday, so we slept in until about 6:30 am. In the morning we got our
race gear, drop bags, etc. ready and went to Easton to a small cafe where
the race would begin and end. Randy Gerhke, the RD, had provided a nice
buffet breakfast for everyone and he conducted a brief meeting in the back
terrace area of the cafe. Randy took the time to introduce all of the
participants and a few folks related to the run and gave us a brief idea of
what to expect from the course. For me, it was a terrific opportunity to
visit with some old friends like Cindy McKenna, her husband Brian and Rob
Smith. We all then placed our drop bags in the proper piles and went to the
nearby start area.
The race began promptly at 10 am, we traveled north on a paved road, over
the freeway (I-90) and then south through the town of Easton. We then took
a gravel road that soon led to the John Wayne Trail. The first major climb
of the race comes early. It is about a 3000-foot climb up to the top of
Goat Mountain. On the peak, we were treated to a magnificent view of
snow-capped Mt. Rainer. We traveled for several miles along this trail that
stayed mostly in the woods and then took a turn on to the Pacific Crest
Trail. We ran along the PCT for the next 35 miles or so. This has to be
one of the most beautiful sections of the PCT that I have run on. We ran on
a great single-track trail surrounded by tall old growth timbers of pine,
cedar, and birch. This section includes traveling over several passes;
Dandy, Stampede, Yakima, and Snoqualmie. There are quite few climbs in this
section, but none are overwhelming. It does not get any better than this!
It was a clear day with moderate temperatures (60-80 degrees).
The 10 am start made for a more relaxed morning, but it meant not getting in
many miles before needing a flashlight. In fact, Randy mandates that
everyone carry a flashlight out of the Stampeded Pass aid station, 35 miles.
Somewhere around thirty miles or so, we separated from Richard, as he
lingered in an aid station trying to get caught up on fluids. Monica and I
kept a consistent but easy pace, just trying to enjoy the experience! Soon
after the Mountain Meadows aid station (42 miles) we needed our flashlights.
The trail along the PCT was fairly easy to follow despite a lack of markings
on the entire PCT section. Randy had warned us that due to some hassles with
the PCT folks and there would't be any race markings in this section. It
did not present any problems, as the PCT was well marked with it's own
signposts. At about 46 miles you leave the PCT by taking a short overgrown,
Barkley type trail that leads down a steep hill to a dirt road. It was well
marked with glow lights and with some care quickly overcome. Now back on
the John Wayne Trail, you enter a 2.3-mile railroad tunnel. The tunnel was
fairly large with a smooth running surface, some dripping water, and a
strong breeze, that must be created by some type of pressure gradient
difference. We ran along this section at a nice pace, although we were
passed by three runners. They were moving very well for this late point in
the race, about 47 miles. It was here that the real fun began in the race
for us. It was the beginning of a race within the race that would continue
until the finish. Monica and I were goaled at finishing under 30 hours, but
it soon became evident that these three guys had only one goal - finishing
ahead of us. Maybe, it was a macho thing, trying to stay ahead of Monica.
Or maybe they figured that there wasn't any way two worn-out runners, who
had already completed several 100's this year, should finish ahead of them.
And so it began, we would come into the aid station to find these guys
sitting around eating and drinking. We would get in and out of the station
quickly and they would drop everything and pass us again on the way to the
next station. The troubled looks on their faces as we entered the stations
were priceless. These guys were great and we were having fun antagonizing
them. I knew that their efforts would eventually be in vain. I had run
several races with Monica this year and I have learned that she (unlike most
of us) only gets faster and stronger in the last 20 miles of a one
hundred-miler. This is a crazy training phenomenon that few of us will ever
experience, but I believe that it is very real.
To reach the Hyak station (55.2 miles) we ran a few miles on a paved road
parallel to the freeway. You also go another 1.5 miles or so on this paved
road after leaving the station before going on a gravel road on the way to
Keechelus Ridge. This was probably the ugliest part of the race (I don't
care much for road stuff), and it seemed somewhat surreal as life was going
on at a very fast pace just next to us on the freeway as we continued on our
quest.
We had a very difficult time finding our way from Keechelus Ridge to Kachess
Lake. This section was marked with some ribbons, but it was a fairly
primitive trail. A few glow lights through this section would have made
life easier, but it will still take you 2.5 to 3 hours to cover this 5-mile
section of the course! At Mineral Creek (75 miles) we met up with one of
our pursuers. He and the others had passed us earlier when Monica needed to
get off her feet due to sleepiness. He was sitting on a big downed tree
trying to figure out how to get over the creek. The log was very large and
was suspended above the shallow creek. Monica jumped up on the tree log and
crab-crawled backwards across to the other side. I hoped up (well maybe
crawled) and just walked across it. It was actually very wide and easy to
walk on. It just appeared daunting this late in the run. Our pal decided to
walk across through the water fearing a fall. It was the last that we would
see him until the finish. It was now daylight! We soon began a long 7.5
mile climb up a gravel road to No Name Ridge. Looking down on the
switchbacks we could see the other two guys from our chase pack still in hot
pursuit. We both began to get very tired and a little spacey on our way up
this 2700 foot climb. We eventually reached the No Name Ridge aid station on
the top (82 miles). The volunteers asked what we needed in the way of food
and drink, "I replied give me beer." I'm not much of a drinker, but I was
done with Gatorade etc. One of the guys joined me in a beer, we toasted the
morning and the top of the climb, off we went. It was great to get back on
to some trails! The next section takes you over several short and steep ups
and downs known as the Cardiac Needles. You take a side trip up Thorp
Mountain, where you get a great view of Mt. Rainier and collect a poker chip
at the top. On our way out of the French Cabin aid station (89 miles) we
caught a glimpse of one of the gruesome threesome just seconds behind us. I
knew that I was in for hard run from here to the finish. Without exchanging
a word, Monica began putting down the hammer. We kept this pace all the way
down to the 96.6 miles station despite several needed pit stops. About a
half-mile past the last station, I spotted my wife, Kathleen, cresting the
last small hill that we needed to climb. She told us that we were close and
cheered us on. We needed the encouragement, it was getting hot and we were
beat. Just around the corner! Really! The course traveled on an ATV road
for less than a mile and BINGO, we sprinted to the end! Randy met us at the
finish a presented us with a very nice buckle that was held in a unique
wooden box made from "purple heart wood." We waited for our pals who
finished just a few minutes behind us.
Summary: This a great race with lots of terrific trail sections,
magnificent views, plentiful aid stations, and fantastic volunteers. Just
Do it!